“Over the years, I perused the Jacket Collection on the Princetoniana Museum website. While there are a number of reunions jackets that I found to be very attractive including my own from the Great Class of 1972, there was one jacket that stood out amongst all others. It was the first reunions jacket worn in a P-Rade by the Great Class of 1904. After many years of admiring the jacket, I called my friend, Nick Hilton, who owns a clothing store on Witherspoon Street. I asked Nick if I could commission him to find an expert weaver and tailor who could create an exact replica of the 1904 jacket. Nick was excited to take on the project but cautioned that it would take time to assemble the right team.

The project took two years. Nick found an expert specialty custom weaver in California who was able to create the fabric with just the right colors, width of stripes and unique features including the pocket flaps and collar. While Nick had visited the Jacket Collection on campus to get the right measurements, Nick and the weaver relied on pictures from the Princetonia Museum website to assure assure that they had just the right colors. Interestingly, the off white color stripe was the most difficulty to replicate It was a labor of love from start to finish. Once the fabric was completed, it was shipped to an expert hand tailor in Rochester, New York who carefully constructed the coat from scratch.

When the jacket was finally delivered to our home in Lake Forest, Illinois, it took my breath away. It truly is an exact replica of this distinguished ancient reunions jacket. The only change is that I placed my class numerals on the shield. I only wear it on very special Princeton occasions. Since all the 1904 jackets have been retired and the replica is a limited production of one, it truly qualifies as a “museum piece”. I am proud to wear it, honoring the Great Class of 1904 and the first reunions jacket ever worn in a P-Rade.”

Bob Murley '72